The University of Alabama

East of Starkville, Mississippi, is Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1831
• 25,580 students
• Colors: Crimson and White
• Nicknames: Crimson Tide
• Websites: www.ua.edu, www.rolltide.com

If there is one fanbase that expects a great deal from their athletic department, it is the fanbase of the University of Alabama. They do not play around when it comes to their athletics, and the same can be said about facilities. The football team plays in historic Bryant-Denny Stadium (2), a magnificant stadium that seats 92,138 people. The loud roar of Tide fans can be heard all over the city of Tuscaloosa on a Saturday in the fall. Although the team’s success has been overshadowed by the football team, the basketball team also has a nice facility. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in Coleman Coliseum, a gym that seats 15,043. The highly successful baseball team plays in Sewell-Thomas Stadium, which seats over 6,000.

I honestly cannot give you a real connection between the terms ‘Crimson Tide’ and ‘elephants.’ Like many people, I have always wondered the connection. Why is their nickname the ‘Crimson Tide’ and their mascot an elephant. I have asked multiple Bama fans about the connection before, and I have gotten different answers from each person. Perhaps, nobody will ever truly know.

Bama fans are excited about the Crimson Tide, and their traditional songs and chants make games fun. If you ever talk to a Bama fan, chances are you will hear him or her say ‘Roll Tide.’ After every victory, the band will play Rammer Jammer as the fans will sing (it would be sung like this if they were playing the University of Tennessee): Hey Vols! Hey Vols! Hey Vols! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer! Yellow Hammer! Give ‘em hell Alabama! A video of this can be seen here.

The main rivals of the University of Alabama are the Tigers from Auburn University and the Volunteers from The University of Tennessee.

 

Coming Next: Auburn University

Louisiana State University

From Fayetteville, we go down to Cajun country. Louisiana State University, home of the Tigers, is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1860
• 33,587 students
• Colors: Purple and Gold
• Nicknames: Fighting Tigers, Lady Tigers
• Website: www.lsu.edu, www.lsusports.net

Louisiana State University is known for their crazy fans, large crowds, and huge tailgating scene (and of course, lots of drunk people). On game day, the streets of Baton Rouge are full of purple and gold. The football team plays in Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley. Tiger Stadium, a huge stadium that seats 92,400, is one of the loudest in the country. With the blaring of Tiger Rag and the roaring of fans, it is not the place to be if you are the visiting team. In 1988, the fans actually caused a seismograph on campus to record a minor earthquake. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, a 13,472 seat arena that is host to many exciting SEC match ups. The LSU baseball team plays in the Alex Box Stadium, a very nice (and historic) stadium that seats 7,760. The passionate Tiger fans are sure to come out and watch their Tigers, especially if they are playing a rival. No matter what, expect the noise level to be VERY high.

One of the more tradition-rich schools in the SEC, LSU has many traditions that they can be proud of:

If you come across an LSU fan, you are bound to hear the term: “Geaux Tigers.” I know that you are probably thinking that I have poor grammar and that i cannot spell “go,” but if you speak with an LSUfan, he will tell you that you are actually the one who is wrong. To keep along with the French Cajun lifestyle of those in South Louisiana, “Geaux Tigers” is the official battlecry of LSU sports. They even have a chant to go along with it. A video of this chant at Tiger Stadium can be heard here.

Mike the Tiger, LSU’s official mascot, is a Bengal tiger. The university is now using its 6th tiger as the school’s mascot. On game days, Mike’s portable cage is wheeled to the entrance of the visiting locker rooms so that the visiting team must pass by him. Also, before every home football game, Mike gets wheeled around Tiger Stadium for all of his faithful to see.

LSU’s main rivals include the Razorbacks from The University of Arkansas, the Rebels from The University of Mississippi, and the Tigers from Auburn University.

 

Coming Next: The University of Mississippi